Eli5: How can a shock wave, as from an explosion, travel faster than the speed of sound?
In: Physics
Some of it has to do with your definition of speed of sound. The speed of sound changes as a function of temperature. So your undisturbed medium has a speed of sound, and the air in/behind the shock is very hot and thus has a different speed of sound. Remember speed of sound is sqrt(gamma*R*Temperature)
Are some pressure waves created more equal than others?
A shockwave IS sound, so by definition it is always travelling at the speed of sound. Or more accurately put, a shockwave (and sound) are pressure waves, and pressure waves travel at a specific speed depending on the exact conditions of what they are travelling through. This exact value changes depending on the medium, and the temperature. But nonetheless it is ALWAYS travelling at the speed of sound.
Because there is no physical barrier limiting the ability of air molecules to move faster than the speed of regular sound vibrations. Most regular sound vibrations are caused by slower waves vibrating outwards, while a shockwave is most often caused by a sudden and powerful release of energy, causing a faster series of waves and vibrations.
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